Okay, odd topic and question, but here goes...

Once I got out of junior high and was over the purple sparkle nail polish craze, I stopped wearing polish totally. Now that I am, ahem, 'mature', (30s),I am revisiting this issue.

I have observed that toe polish is practically mandatory if you want to be the slightest bit normal. My Texan friend swears not a single woman in the state has bare toes. So a few years ago I began wearing what I thought was a decent shade of mauve on my toes in the summer. My husband asked me recently though, why I paint my toenails brown...so I've pushed that one and only polish bottle to the back of the closet...

I purchased a mulberry type shade which is attractive, but tends to be sheer in spots and requires multiple applications. Does 'base coat' really help the color coat to adhere evenly? Is base coat a necessity? The polish choices are overwhelming and I haven't visited a polish section since my foray into the mauve/brown three years ago. There's base coat, top coat, with iron, with nylon, with epoxy, strengthening, etc. And big differences in prices....

Another question is fingernail polish. I do like the look of clear nailpolish on fingernails but I'm also wondering if you are ever supposed to, or 'allowed' to wear matching polish on your toes and fingers?? To me it sounds almost too cutesy, but I thought I'd check. Should I be daring and apply this mulberry to my fingernails, too, or would I be waaaaay too 'granimals-ish'? (remember those clothes which came tagged in a way you knew what shirt matched what pants??)

Anyway, how is it in your area?? Toe polish a must? Fingernail polish a must? Matching? None at all? OH, and how long should toenails be??? Stubs look ridiculous with polish but so do long ones....I let mine go to the end of the toe which is longer than I like but as I said, stubs with a bunch of pudgy toe skin sticking out looks ridiculous.

So please inform this hopeless and helpless 'mature' woman step into fashion in the 21st century.

By Kaye on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:13 pm:

I keep my toes nails cut to where there is a little white showing. But I keep them painted. I found that a base coat and a top coat help the paint last longer. Mine typically grows out before it chips off.

You can wear matching toes and fingers and I think most people do.

I don't typically have my fingers painted and I prefer the french manicure look if I go somewhere to have them done.

By Debbie on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:18 pm:

I always have my toes painted. But, I only use clear on my finger nails. I am too lazy to paint my finger nails too. It is just too much work to keep the polish looking nice. If I were to paint both a color, I would probably use the same color on toes and figer nails.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:24 pm:

I prefer my toes and fingers to match but...I am way too hard on my nails. With all the projects I do, particularly the stained glass, my fingernails are always getting broken.
I do think toes need to be painted if you are showing them off (sandals, etc). I like a frosty pink color.

By Tink on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:44 pm:

I always, ALWAYS have my toes painted, usually a semi-bright color and my toenails stay pretty short. I hate long toenails. I only paint my fingernails with clear polish because they get chipped within a few days and I'm not willing to invest that kind of time with colored polish. I can clearcoat them and file them once a week and they look neat for most occasions.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

I never paint my nails. A huge waste of time for me and just way to dressed up for my personal taste. If I'm going to an event, I'll put clear on my fingernails. Toenails are always painted in the summer though, for me. I have no idea what people "do" around where I live...I seem to see it all, bare, clear, and polished. I just do what I like! So many people polish their little girls fingers and toes around here and it's SUCH a turn off to me. That won't be happening at our house! LOL That's off the subject though.

I think you should do what makes you comfortable and what you look good in.

By Kateg on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 12:56 pm:

I'm not a fashion icon, by no means, but started weaving my own path to painting my toenails years ago - when I was pregnant with my dd. I started painting my toes alternate colors. Around the holidays I change to go with the holiday. It's something fun & it's a conversation piece, as I hardly ever wear regular shoes - always flip flops or sandals. Right now they are purple & orange. I did have them a different color on each toe for a couple of weeks, too.

My fingernails are another story. I am hard on my nails & rarely take the time to mess with them. I love having a French manicure. I don't believe in matching polish for hands & feet. I believe in doing what is best for you & what you are comfortable with.

Enjoy!

By Jjb on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 01:56 pm:

I paint my toes and not my finger nails. Using a clear base coat is really important- especially with dark colors or the "quick dry" forumlas because the colored nail polish can hurt your nails (I learned this the hard way). I use the same clear base polish for a top coat to keep them looking better longer. Sometimes I use two top coats.

I never paint my finger nails- I just don't like the feeling of nail polish on them. But around here I have seen people with the same color on their fingers and toes. I've also seen a lot of women with french manicures or clear coats on their fingers and colored toes. I hope this helps.

I think you should do what you want. I paint mine because I don't like the way my toe nails look.

By Mara on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 01:59 pm:

I too usually keep my toenails painted. I have a pretty silver that I like for my toes, or a bright pink. My nails are usually clear or a light pink. My fingers and toes don't always match

By Chai~latte on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 02:32 pm:

If you are having difficulty with coverage try OPI nail polish it is excellent and will stay on for a long time. My suggestion would be to go and have a professional pedicure you won't believe the difference and how great your feet look and feel afterwards. It's so worth it.

I'm not a huge fan of colored polish on finger nails, it just shouts 80s to me for some reason and I never see people in my area wearing it on their fingers. I go in spurts, sometimes I have polish on my toes and sometimes not. I like bright pinks for summer or french manicure look on the toes, you can also buy little decols (sp?) with flowers on them and put them on your big toes, they look pretty in the summer.

You might also want to try a nail buffer, you can get them at the pharmacy and they usually have 4 sides. They take out all the bumps and ridges in your nails and shine them up to almost a clear polish look without the polish and it lasts much longer than polish. I currently have no polish on and have my toenails and fingernails buffed and they look great and super healthy.

You might want to finish off with a little bit of mineral oil on your cuticles, keeps them from drying out in the summer time.

By Rayelle on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 06:32 pm:

I'd love for my fingernails to look nice but I don't have the time or money to bother with them right now. I have the worst toenails ever! My big toes are normal but the rest of my toenails are almost non existent, little slits. So, I wear fake toenails. You can laugh if you want,lol! They stay on really good and look like a pedicure. They make me feel better in sandals and cost about $5. I usually buy the french manicure ones because they look neat and natural. I bought colored ones before but they seemed too fake. I say do what you like. Match if you want or not. Change the color to match you clothes or whatever. Have fun! I remember purple sparkle nail polish,btw. It was a big treat for me if my mom would paint my nails purple sparkle! Your post brought back a fun memory.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 07:48 pm:

Another vote for OPI products - ecept base and quich dry top coat. Seche Vite is the best I've found and they make a great ridge filling, opaque base.
When I could have a manicure and pedicure each week, I went for great colors and they usually matched, unless I wanted a French for some reason. I even used to get a French on my toes sometimes.
Now, toes are always done and fingernails get another great OPI product that is a hardener and strengthener (can't remember the name of it).
Toes get great bright colors in summer, more rich tones in winter.
Just have fun with it!
Ame

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 10:25 pm:

I always have mine painted as well, although I rarely paint my fingernails. I second a filler base, they make the polish look a thousand times better, IMO. You could try a matte pale pink, it's classic and muted, and doesn't stain your nails like darker colors. (I frequently wear an orange color that goes well with olive skin, but when taking off the polish it looks like I soaked my nails in OJ!) I really stay away from pearl colors, they tend to need multiple EVEN coats in my experience, and really take too much maintenance. And Ame is right, bright colors in spring and summer look great, I'm hooked on a bright pink color by Sally Hansen right now. Really, even a clear coat makes your feet look much more "polished" (no pun intended), I hate seeing women with bare toenails and open shoes.